AMANDA REDMAN may be in her prime but she says actresses in their mid-50s are still ignored when it comes to getting good parts.

Amanda Redman says actresses in their mid-50s are still being ignored[PA]

The 56-year-old believes middle-aged women are sandwiched between young attractive leading ladies and older grand dames.

“You’re ignored because you’re not old and kooky and you’re not young and sexy,” she tells Radio Times. “Emma Thompson [54] is probably the only person I can think of who is my age and working – and she’s had to write stuff for herself.”

The actress said that broadcasters were too safe with what they commissioned now [WENN]

You’re ignored because you’re not old and kooky and you’re not young and sexy

Amanda Redman

Redman - soon to appear in a Tommy Cooper biopic on ITV called Not Like That, Like this - went on to reveal that she had pitched an autobiographical story to television chiefs about a woman approaching the menopause whose children were flying the nest."They wouldn't touch it because they thought it was not something that men would want to watch, which is a shame because a lot of it's very funny," she said.She was also rejected when she said she took a story written by comic Jenny Eclair to ITV: "They said 'we can't do this, your character is too unsympathetic, your audience won't like that.' God, I was so angry."We used to lead the world with our brave TV, now it's hard to find something you're proud to appear in," she added.

She said Emma thomspon was the only one stil working but had to write stuff herself [WENN]

In 2009 it emerged Amanda was fibbing about her age, saying she was dreading turning 50 when she was already 51.

But she remains in demand and after her long run in New Tricks is starring opposite David Threlfall as comedy magician Tommy Cooper’s long-suffering wife Gwen in the ITV biopic Not Like That, Like This, on Easter Monday.

Commenting on marital problems she says: “A showbiz marriage works for some people but in my experience it’s not a terrific thing.

It’s easier because you understand more of course but it’s too pressured, especially if one person’s getting work and the other isn’t.”

Her marriage to Hustle star Robert Glenister, father of their actress daughter Emily, 26, ended in the 1990s and she is married to phone designer Damian Schnabel, 42.